FREE FLU VACCINE AVAILABLE AT COMMUNITY CLINIC SEPTEMBER 23

September 17, 2011 (San Diego) -- With flu season on the way, residents—18 years of age and older—in the Skyline community of San Diego and surrounding areas will have an opportunity to receive a flu shot at no cost.The community clinic will offer 660 doses to the public and take place Friday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 6401 Skyline Drive."

This is a perfect opportunity for community residents to get their vaccine and remain healthy this flu season, a goal of the County’s Live Well, San Diego! initiative,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “Getting vaccinated is the single most important action people can take to protect themselves from the flu.”

The vaccination clinic is sponsored by the San Diego Black Nurses Association, the County Health and Human Services Agency, AARP and the San Diego Immunization Coalition.

Since 2003, we have given flu shots in the southeast community in San Diego to the underserved,” said Syvera Hardy, R.N., Public Relations Chair for San Diego Black Nurses Association. “It makes it convenient for those without transportation and especially the seniors to get to the clinic and to get the shotfree.”

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that people 6 months and older get vaccinated; two doses are recommended for children 6 months to 8 years and they are to be administered four weeks apart.

The vaccine is especially recommended for people at higher risk of developing complications from the flu: pregnant women, children under 5, people 50 and older, those with chronic medical conditions and people in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

According to the CDC, more than 160 million flu doses have been distributed across the country.

Locally, the flu vaccine will also be available at doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies. People with no insurance or medical provider will be able to get the flu vaccine at the County’s seven public health vaccination clinics. The nearest location can be found at www.sdiz.org or by calling 2-1-1.